Body massaging machine



`May25, 1943. v o. T. BUFFALOW f 2,320,251

BODY MAS SAGING MACHINE 54 4a F le] 58 NVENTOR 5e 5 59 Oscar n uf-fqlow ATTORNEY May 25, 1,943. o. T. UFFALOW i 2,320,261

BODY MASSAGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIWI@ Simms:

FIG. IZ.

NI/ENTOR scar T Buffalow ATTORNEY May 25, 1943.v

' Q, T. BUFFALow 2,320,261

BODY MASSAGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 19A, 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a5- 64 62 1 9 6o Y 82 f@ S2 1 5 es IN VENTOR Oscar 'l'. Buffa/o w A TTORN Y May 25, 1943.

o. T. BUFFALOW 2,320,261

BODY MASSAGlNG MACHINE FiledvFeb. 19, 1940 l 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR Oscar- TBufalow.

4 MM www ATTORNEY body.

Patented May 25, 1943 UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE 2,320,261 BODY MAssAGING MACHINE Oscar Thomas Buialow, Chattanooga, Tenn. Application February 19, 1940, Serial No. 319,717

2 Claims.

My invention relates to massaging tables and more particularly to massaging tables having va massage attachment that reciprocates `in an opening in the top of the table.

In the prior art, a form of massage machine for massaging the body by means of oblongreciprocating yielding rollers was known. W. 'C. Redfield, 2,175,614. Also a massage chair having specially designed kneading rollers for kneading theback on opposite sides of the spine was known to the prior art. E. R. Monroe, 1,645,339. However, the massage attachment of Monroes chair is lmounted on a one-way screw shaft, and only makes a single continuous negotiation of the shaft, when it must be released and started over again. The kneading rollers are mechanically driven and are not adjustable with respect to their angles relative to each other. The handoperated massage table of Herbert L. Heard,

-1,501,341 embodies the simple idea of rollers 'be installed in a table, couch or other suitable piece of furniture with but little alteration, and which y,automatically adjustsA itself to the contour of the body, having adjustable roller applicator balls, which balls may be made of hard,

medium or soft material, preferably of sponge rubber or felt, actuated by a double threaded screw or a single threaded screw with a reversible motor to reciprocate the applicator, and may operate in cooperation with means for placing tension on the spine during the massaging 'operation.

A further object of my invention is a massage table having the massage attachment swung thereunder and resting on springs or other resilient material to make it adaptable to the contours of the patients body and responsive to-any sudden unevenness or pressure from the patients A further object of my invention is a' massage table having massage rollers that are angularly adjustable with respect to each other.

A further object of my invention is a massage table having foot straps or holders which cooperate with a chin and head lstrap and weights rattached thereto to s-tretch the subjects Abody vwhile being massaged.

rollers.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an applicator .including massaging rollers of resilient material rsuch as sponge rubber, felt, etc.

Afur'ther object of my invention is a massage attachment having massage rollers composed of several laminated discs. 4

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the vfollowing specifications and .accompanying drawingaand the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

A'Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of my massaging machine.

Figure v2 is a rear view of my machine, showing the massage attachment by dotted lines.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the massaging rollers and surroundingframe parts along the .lines 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a front sectional view of my machine lalong the lines 4-4 ofFigure l. 1

Figure 5 is a fragmental view of the set screw for adjusting the rider in relation to the drive screw;

Figure 6 is a side `view of the screw rider.

Figure 7 is a top view lof, the screw rider.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional View along the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a sectional view along the line 9--9 of Figure l, showing one of the hanger rods which support the frame.

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional fragment, showing one of the roller wheels upon which the frame rides and a section of the casing and rider.

Figure 11 is a plan view of an enlarged fragment showing the mechanism for angular adjustment ofthe massage rollers.

Figure 12 Vis a side view of a modified massage attachment, having a message vibrator in addition to massage rollers.

. of electric motorl 58.

4block 53 by screws 54, and block 53 is fastened.

- to frame 45 by downwardly pointed nails 55.

- Motor 50 is operated by lead wires |85.

Figure 1'7 is a view cf the pulley upon which'LVM f the tackle attached to the neckband rides.

Figure 18 is a fragmental view showing the-- neckband and weight for pulling same.

Figure 19 is a fragmental plan view fa modi-v cation of my improved machine.

Sleeve 38 is attached to the bottom of carriage 24 by screws 39, and has its opening lo-ngitudinally positioned with respect to carriage 24. Sleeve 38 loosely encloses shaft I8.

Screw 3S passes through one side of sleeve 33. Open rider collar 34 is loosely held at the inner end of screw 36 by stem 35 which freely fits into an opening in the inner end of screw 36. Open collar 34 rides in the groove l2 of two-way screw shafzt |8.` Stop collar 31 of screw 38 presses against the side of sleeve 38 when screw 36 has been screwed into sleeve 38 sufficiently to permit open collar 34 to ride freely in groove I2. When the rotation of shaft I 8 brings open collar 34 to either end o-f the grooved portion of the shaft,

open collar 34, following groove I2, is rotated in screw 35 at a suitable angle to follow groove Figure 28 is a detail of my improved machine,V`

showing the carriage and track for supporting and carrying the applicators.

Figure 21 is a fragmental sectional elevation of a portion of my improved -machine showing the track and conveyor for the applicator.

Figure 22 is a detail fragmental portion of kmy improved gear for raisingand lowering the carriage track.

Figure 23is a detail of a `bracket used in my improved combination. J

vFigure 24 is another detail of another element used in my improved machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail, VvI is a table top uponv which the subject lies, and in which `is `an' opening defined by the rounded edges 64.

Top I is supported by base 2'. A fabric covering 9 is stretched across the table topand held .taut

by ibeing wound on roller 3, the. ends ofwhich are supported by pins 6, 8 which' ride in openmgs in brackets 4, 5 that are attached to the leg 1 supports of thetable. Cloth roller 3 is held in a rolled position by ratchet wheel 1, which is rigidly amxed to pin 8.

Table top I is composedof. a resilient layer such as sponge rubber, hair, cotton or other soft material 62 and avwood layer 52 beneath the cork layer.

Frame 43 is swung beneath the opening 1n the table top by four rods 56, which pass through panels 68 that are attached towooden layer 6I by nails'63'. Enlarged heads 'of rods 58 .prevent them from pulling out of panels 63. The lower vend of rods 55, encased in sleev'esl51,rp'asses through frame 445, which is supported by compression springs 58l that encircle sleeves"51` and are supported, together with sleeves 51, by adjustable winged-nuts 59 that-screw upon the lower ends ofrods 55.

Reduced ends I4 and I8 of two wayl screw shaft I8 ride freely in housings I5 which are fastened to the topl of frame 46 by bolts I8 'and nuts I1.-

Faces I3 integral with'screw shaft I8 press against the inner faces of housings I5. .End I8 of shaft I8 projects beyond housing I5 asufcient length `to-carry pulley` I9,which-is rigidly a'ixed to end I8 by set screw 28. Pulley I9 andshaft I8. are g i turned by belt 48 which is motivated -by .drive pulley 48 that is4 attached by pin '.52 .to shaft 5I Motor 58 is attached to kCarriage 24 is mounted upon tracks 45 by means of wheels 4I thatare vheld inl wheel housings 48 --by axle screws 42 .and .nuts 43.. Tracks 45 are fastened down upon frame 46 by v nails 41.v

I2 in .the opposite direction along shaft I8. Thus the rotation of shaft I8 carries open collar 34 back and forth along the grooved portion thereof, and thereby, by means of sleeve 38 reciprocates carriage 24 along shaft I8.

l with screw 3|. to the lower side'of block 29 by brad 28, which by brads 25.

and 28, so that when thumb screw 3I is screwed -Yinwardly through bracket l32 links 21, push the 1 Pivotally axed to carriage 24 by means of screws 25 are two U-shaped holders 23, each holding a rubber massage roller' II, which freely rotates on axle 22, the ends of which ride in openings through the upper ends of bracket 22. Each massage disc vis composed of resilient material. kThe upper edges of massage rollers II pass upward through the opening in table top I.

Adjustable thumb screw 3l screws into bracket 32 which is fastened to the top of carriage 24 by screws 33. The inner end of screw 3l is freely held in block 29 by lcollar 38 which is integral Links 21 are fastened at one end passes downwardly through block 29 and then through holes in links 21. The other` ends of links 21,are respectively fastened to projections from the inner ends of the lower parts of holders 23 Linksr21 move freely on brads 28 inner sides of holders 23 away from bracket 32,

- causing holders 23 to rotate on screws 25 in opposite directions Vwith respect to each other.

"When thumb screw 3I is screwed outwardly through bracket 32, holders 23 are rotated oppositely from the directions in which they rotate when screw 3I is screwed inwardly. Thus the 1 angle between massage rollers I I may be altered vby adjustment of thumb screw 3l, but its median isalways parallel with the longitudinal center line of theopening in top I. `At the lower corners of the table braces 61 are fastened to the sides of the base 2 of the table by screw 18. The upper'ends of braces 61 extend above table top I Vand have slots 68 in them. .Fabric or leather footholders 6B are held to the table by straps 59,'which fasten together through .slots 68.Y

Collar 11 is fastened to the center of the front end of base 2 by bolt 18 and nut 19. Sleeve 15 has a right-angled finger which rests in collar 11. Sleeve 15 may be-adjusted to and from the .end of thev table by moving its finger into and out of collar 11 and fixing i-t withset screw 88. -Verticalrod 103 moves up and downvthrough sleeve 15, being held in any desired positionby set screw 16. Pulley 13 rotates upon axle |84 which passes through the upper end of rod |83. ,Rope 12 rides upon pulley 13, having variable weights 14 attached to its lower end and two `supporting straps 'II, which-holds the ends of chin strapv65, attached to itsvupper end.v When 4chin strap 65 is adjusted beneath the Lchin of the subject, a pull is extended by the weights 14 onthe end of rope '12.

ll-Iowever, itis lto be understood thatanyl other suitable means for stretching the body, While -being massaged, would come within the scope of 'this invention.

A modified form of support for frame 46 is shown in Figures 13, 14 and i5. Frame 46', upon which are laid tracks 45', rests at each of its ends iupon two compression springs 58' -wh-ich yencircle vertical rods 9'| of which the upper ends pass through holes in frame 46 and supporting `blocks 98, that are attached to the upper sides of the corners vof frame 46'. The lower endsrof rods 91 pass throughv the ends `of cross Vpiece l96 and are rigidly held therein by locking nuts 99, one of which is screwed upon each bolt 9f'| -above cross piece -96 and one below Ycross piece 96. The

-lower -end of vertical shaft -85 screws through f an opening in the center of cross piece 96. lThe upper vend of shaft 85 passes through block 8| and the reduced end thereof 64 screws into head 83, which prevents it 'from pulling out. Head 83 is loosely held in an opening in the upperside of block 8| to shaft 85 to be rotated in block 8|. Block 8| is fastened to the lower layer 60 of top by nails 82. Block 9| is fastened to the .underside of block 8| by bolt 92 and nut 93. Horizontal handle shaft 90 rides loosely in openings in block 9| and base 2. Beveled gear 88 fastened yto the inner end of shaft 90 by brad 89 enmeshes with a beveled gear B6 that encircles `in cross piece 95. As cross-piece `illis raised or lowered, it moves rods 91 and compression springs A58' upward or downward, causing frame .46' to move upward or downward upon spring 58'.

In the modified form of massage attachment shown in Figure 12 carriage 24' and housings 24' are extended to hold base |00 upon which rests electric motor I I, which is fed by lead wires |06. Attached to motor |0| is vibrator. |03, which passes lupthrough the opening in top together with massage rollers A detailed description of a suitable vibrator will be found in applicants Patent No. 2,156,839 for Applicator for vibratory massagers, dated May 2, 1939.

The operation of my massage machineis as follows: The subject lies prone, back downwards, on the cover 9 which protects him from the surface of the table and of the massage rollers. Motor 50 is started, imparting rotation to shaft I0 through belt 48. The massage rollers, or other massage attachment, are then raised either by' winged screws 59, or by knob 95 in case the machine has the modified form of support, and arel brought into contact with the underside of cover 0f -the subjects body. The speed .of reciproca- `tion of `the massage attachment is cont-rolled by the speed wcontrol switch connected in the lead wires of the motor.

y0f course, it is contemplated a master control -maylbe vemployed to raise either Iend of the mas- -saging unitvorboth ends simultaneously and that head or foot .straps may be dispensed with :if desired. It is also contemplated that any-other appropriate resilient means such as leaf springs, rubber, etc., may be Vsubstituted for the helical springs.

`Referring to the modification of Figure 1.9, 2' designates supporting end through which shaft 'extends, the free end vof shaft .90' -having a rectangular portion for engagement with a Wrench or lifting mechanism for turning said shaft. Intermediate its ends are cross pins |10', I0', one of said cross pins being located adjacent one end and the other cross pin being located adjacent the other end. The shaft 99' is set in bearings 9|', 9|' against which are abutted beveled gears 92', 92'. These beveled gears are Ioppositely positioned with'respect toleach other, the l.farther gear being away from the support 12', and the other gear being toward the support 2'. These beveled gears 92 have extensions 93', and these .extensions -have bores extending not only :through them but also through the main body of the gear 92'. The bores are of greater size than the shaft. `Interposed between the gears 92' and the Ashaft l90' are collars 95' having extensions '94 lof lesser diameter than the collars for the reception of the gears 92'. The collars 95' are rigidly secured to the gears 92' and at their front ends recesses 96 for the reception vof the cross pins l0'. When the cross pins |0 are seated 'in the recesses 98', the collar, and in turn the gear 92 turn with the shaft 90'. Positioned between the bearings 9|', 9|' and rigidly mounted upon 'the shaft 90 is a supplemental collar 98', which-collar is secured to the shaft 90' by means of a pin or other suitable securing device 98. Interposed between the supplemental collar 96 Y and the outer bearing 9|' is a helical spring 99'.

This `spring urges .the supplemental collar 91' vaway from the bearing 9|' and causes the outer cross pin l0' to seat in the recess of the outer Vcollar -so that the gear 92" will rotate with the shaft 90. When in vthis position, it maybe noted that the inner pin I0' of shaft` 90' is disengaged from recess 95', so that the shaft90 is free to rotate with respect to the gear 92 `and `rotation of Athe shaft 90 imparts no motion to the innergear 92' which is meshed withasecond beveled gear 99' mounted on supplemental shaft |00' b-y means of pin or other suitable securing device |0|'. Mounted on the opposite end of the supplemental shaft |00' is a second beveled gear |02' which meshes with a gear |03 on shaft |06'.

The opposite end or outer end which has previously been referred to, has a similar supplemental shaft |00' mounted in a bearing |01' and carrying a second beveled gear |02' meshed With a beveled gear |03' mounted on shaft |06'. The foregoing mechanism is for the purpose of raising and lowering the track or the carriage in order to bring the applicator balls into closer or further or lighter contact with the body of the patient. Upon either end of the table is mounted a bracket |04', |04', which bracket serves as a supporting device for shaft |08', |06' and are mounted to the table by pins I8', I8'.

On the base 46 is mounted the usual track 45' running longitudinally of the base. On the back Side of the base are mounted at either end thereof,

brackets 3U', 30', having thumb screws 3|', 3|'

passing therethrough for engagement with the j upper faces of the base 46 to clamp the bracket .3 0. -in position. Projecting upwardly from the Ibracket 35 4is an extension 33' which-is in reality an arm. This arm is for the purpose to be indicated hereinafter.

y Above the base 46 is the shaft 24"which mounted at the four sides thereof upon rollers 4l', 4| in ibrackets 40 having pivots 42 passing therethrough. The brackets 40' are joined Mounted on the bottom of the carriage 24' is a collar having a screw threaded borefor coopera- ,tion with the screw threads on a shaft Ill mount- -ed on the base 46. The shaft Hl' is mounted. upon the base 46 and at either end thereof by.

bearings 38 inthe manner heretofore described.

Mounted on the outer free end of the shaft I0 is a Pulley I9' which is driven by a belt 98 passing over its surface and thence to a motor not shown. The shaft I0' only rotates in one direction at-a time. The extendedarm 32 'cont-acts the arm 33 of the bracket`30' at either end thereof and wings the arm 32' of the switch 25 back and forth to reverse the direction of the flow of current to v the motor (not shown), and in turn reverse the `ldirection of rotation of `such motor which controls the rotation .of shaft I0". A outwardly to the motor and leads 26 extend to the source of electric supply. Y

j, In its operation, Yif it is desired to lift one end Leads 21 extend of the base 46' higher than the other end in order to 'create more pressure between the patient-s body and themassaging rollers Il', H 'the shaft 90 is pressed inwardlyto overcome the effect of the spring 99', the pin Ill' is broughtA into engagement with therecess 96' on the inner collar 95'. This rotates gear 92' which is meshed with gear 99' and in turn rotates gear ll2 and gear ,103 thereby rotating gear |06', and soto raise and lower the carriage at the inner end. How- `ever, when the inwardrforcer is removed from shaft 9B'. the spring urges the shaft onwardly,

pressing uponthe collar 91. This disengages kthe inner cross pin I0' andrengages the outer .t 'cross pinlD'with the rec'essfSB' in the outer collar- 4 n t n -955.3 Wl1en this occurs gear 92' on the outer end ,of shaft 90 is rigidly keyed to the shaft and moves with it, thereby rotating gear 99 the outer end of the table which in turn rotates supplemental shaft |01 and the inner gear |02' which 'is meshedwith` gear |06 and in turn rotates the shaft |06. This rotation raises and lowersthe table at the outer end depending upon the direction of rotation of shaft H16.

`As the shaft I0' rotates in .one direction the carriage is meshed with collar 8|. Collar 8l moves along shaft I ll Ias it rotates. Reaching the lower end of the shaft, the arm 32' on reversing switch. 25'Y engages with stationary arm 33' of bracket. Asthe carriage moves still further 'the switch 32 vis moved over and the contacts are changed and reversed so that the direction of rotation of the motor and in turn the shaft l0 are also reversed. The reversal of rotation o f the shaft carries the carrier 24 b-ack in the opposite direction until it reaches the outer` extremity of the table where the movable arm 32 contacts the stationary arm 33 of the outer bracket 30 and again reverses the switch and in turn the rotation of the motor and the shaft Having fully described my invention, I claim: 1. A massage table comprising a table having an opening in the` top thereof, a carriage, freely `rotating resilient massage rollers carried by the .carriage for reciprocating in said opening, a track f for said carriage resiliently mounted thereunder forg'adapting said rollers to contours of the subjects body, said massage rollers being spaced to' apply to subjects back on both sides of the spinal column, means for angularly adjusting said rollers withrespect to their planes of rotation, means for reciprocating said rollers.

Y 2. A massage table comprising a table having `an' opening in the top thereof, resilient supportving track positioned beneath said table, means for adjusting the position of said resilient supporting track with respect to said table top a twoway screw shaft mounted upon said supporting track, a massage element mounted on a carriage 'on said track and reciprocally activated in said .opening by the ,rotation of said shaft, said massage element comprising freely rotating rollers vspacedto apply to the subjects back simultaneouslyV on both sides of the spinal column, means y for angularly adjusting said rollers with respect to their planes of rotation, means for reciprocating said rollers.

1 OSCAR THOMAS BUFFALOW. 

